Zbigniew Ziobro wanted to build a new media empire and have a “young Rydzyk”. Father O. fit this structure for him – said Mariusz Witczak from the Civic Coalition about the findings in the case of Father Michał O. and his knowledge of the Justice Fund competition. Katarzyna Kotula, Minister for Equality, stated that “Zbigniew Ziobro and his colleagues robbed not only the Polish state, but also people experiencing violence.”
In conversations with journalists, Father Michał O. argued that he found out about the Ministry of Justice competition in 2020 just like others – after it was announced. According to the findings of Sebastian Klauziński from tvn24.pl and Maria Pankowska from OKO.press, the priest took steps to prepare for the competition even before it started, in 2019.
They also proved that Zbigniew Ziobro he met not after winning the competition, as he argued, but earlier. As a result of the victory, the Michał O. foundation received PLN 66 million, Father Michał O. planned to build a Media Center for Evangelization.
READ MORE: How priest Michał O. was preparing to build the Media Center for Evangelization >>>
Father Michał O.Fakty/TVN
Witczak: Ziobro was looking for “young Rydzyk”
However, Mariusz Witczak from the Civic Coalition stated that the former Minister of Justice was looking for “young Rydzyk”. – I have no doubt that Zbigniew Ziobro was looking for a new church base for his political environment and himself. He wanted to have “young Rydzyk”. Father O. fit this structure for him, said the politician.
He argued that Ziobro and his circle wanted to “build a new media empire” and have “their own, influential television.”
Kropiwnicki: the prosecutor's office knows what to do
Robert Kropiwnicki from KO also talked about Father O.. – He is accused, has been charged and can say whatever he wants about it. This is his line of defense and it should be treated as such. His credibility in this case is the same as Macierewicz's credibility in the Smolensk case, he said.
Kropiwnicki: Father O.'s credibility in this case is the same as Macierewicz's credibility in the Smolensk case
– Many of them are also at risk of being charged. They are also in the circle of people who are verified and have a common line of defense. This is how you have to treat it. This is a procedural rather than a political game. They are trying to make the prosecutor believe that they have nothing to do with it. The documents say something different and I think the prosecutor's office knows what to do in this case, concluded Kropiwnicki.
Leo: I'm surprised that Father O. is a martyr
– It doesn't surprise me at all. I'm only surprised by making Father O. a martyr and turning Law and Justice politicians into martyrs. If someone has nothing on his conscience, he has nothing to fear. Meanwhile, Law and Justice politicians and people associated with PIS they hide behind immunities, they hide abroad – said Aleksandra Leo from Poland 2050.
Aleksandra Leo on the findings regarding Father O.: It doesn't surprise me at all
Warchoł: what is happening is an absolute scandal
Marcin Warchoł from PiS also commented on the matter. – It is an absolute scandal what is happening and there will be compensation. Those who committed it will pay for all the wickedness and evil done to Father O.. – said the politician.
Marcin Warchoł on actions against priest O.: it is an absolute scandal
Kotula: this is the rule of PiS politicians – say it's not your hand
– This is the principle followed by the politicians of Law and Justice and the politicians of Sovereign Poland. If they grab your hand, say it's not your hand. We know that this is not an empty slogan from a gangster movie, but that it was the maxim that guided them, because there are recordings that confirm it – she commented in “One on One” Katarzyna KotulaMinister for Equality.
She added that “today we receive further proof that the Justice Fund was a piggy bank, a private, or rather party piggy bank, of Minister Ziobro's colleagues and Minister Ziobro himself, because the entire Sovereign Poland and its political environment and people who were close to them and those who associated with them could reap profits.
She assessed that “Zbigniew Ziobro and his colleagues robbed not only the Polish state, not only citizens, but what is most disgusting is that they robbed people experiencing violence, including domestic violence.”
Kotula: this is the rule of PiS politicians – say it's not your handTVN24
Main photo source: Fakty/TVN